Water-motor



.(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

G. P. BRADWAY.' WATER MOTOR.

.Patented Julyl 21, l1885.

WE1- V I l?? Multum (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. P. BRADWAY. WATER MOTOR.

m3221385. PatentedJu1y2L1885--,

CD c) gli@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES PHILIP BRADVAY, OF STAFFORD, CONNECTICUT.

WATER-MOTO R.

SPECIFECATIO forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,785, dated July21,1885.

.Application filed October 3l, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs P. BRADWAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Stafford, in the county of Tolland and State of Connecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tater-Motors; and Ido declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itapper tains tomake and use the same, reference beinghad to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and gures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specication.

This invention relates to water-motors; and

y it consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement ofthe several parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out inthe claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view; Fig. 2, a verticallongitudinal section of my machine. Fig. 3 is a detail view of thepreferred form of bearing for the lower pulley. Fig. el is a detail viewof aseetion of the band. Fig. 5 is a vert-ical longitudinal section ofsaid flange. 6 is a detail top view of t-he penstock, and Fig. 7 shows amodification.

In carrying out my invention I employ a vertical penstock, A, providedwith an induction port or pipe, A, which connects with and receiveswater from a forebay, pond, or other source of supply. In the penstock Iarrange in approximately a vertical position a pipe, Bextending the fulllength of and opening out of the opposite ends of the penstock. Thebottom of the penstock around said opening is closed. This pipe isprovided with a lower perforation, C, which may be arranged near thebottom of or farther up on said pipe in about the position shown. It isalso provided above said opening C with a perforation, D. Where desired,the upper opening, D, may be duplicated, forming a series extendingvertically, so as to properly receive the water at different levels, andalso increase the volume of water iiowing into the tube or pipe in theoperation of the device. A gate or valve, E, surrounds the pipe B, andis movable over the opening C, so as to close said opening when desired.This valve E is preferably made tubular and encircling pipe B, and isprovided with a handle-rod, E', which extends upward above the penstockin convenient reach of the operator. A similar gate or valve, F, isarranged above valve E, and is adjustable over the openings D. Thisvalve has a handle-rod, F', which also extends upward, and is formedwith a series of notches or serrations, f. A latch, G, is pivoted on thepenstock and is movable into and out of the engagement with notches f,so as to hold the gate F in any desired position. Where desired, the rodE may be similarly formed with notches f, and a latch maybe alsoarranged to be moved into engagement with said notches, in order to holdthe gate Ein any position desired; but I usually find it necessary onlyto use these notches on the rod F', and they may, when so desired, bedispensed with, even from said rod'. Pulleys Irl-H are journaled oneabove and the other below the penstock, and are provided with notches hand with recesses h alternating around their circumference. The band Ior endless belt is preferably made of flexible sheet metal and issupported on the pulleys H H. This band is provided with buckets I andlugs or cogs I, arranged alternately. The cogs I2 iit in the notches h,and the belt is driven by the engagement of said cogs with the pulleys HH. The recesses h are fitted to receive the buckets I', and are madesufficiently large to receive said buckets in such manner that they willbe held clear of engagement with the pulley. The endless belt operatesthrough the pipe B, and its line of mo tion is as indicated by arrow,Figs. l and 2. It will be seen, therefore, that the belt moves downwardthrough the pipe, and the buckets I are made, by means of any suitableform of packing,to fit snugly the bore thereof. These buckets areprovided with valves t', which may be of the flap variety shown, or ballor other suitable form of valve desired. The form of these valves is notmaterial to my invention. It is only essential that they should retainthe water against downward pressure, and should be capable` of openingagainst an upward pressure of water, for the purposes presentlydescribed. The band Irmay be of hat metal, as shown, or a wire rope ofany desired material. I prefer to support the lower pulley, H,inbearings J, having arms J lapped alongside the penstock and under abracket, K, extended outward therefrom, and to brace IOO the saidbearing by Ythreaded standards L, mounted between them and the bracketK, and capable of being lengthened or forcing said brackets and bearingapart by the turning against the bracket of suitable nuts, L', turned onthe standards L. It is manifest, however, that the manner of supportingthe pulleys as well as the speciiic construction of same may be variedwithout departing from the broad principles of my invention.

In operation, water is admitted to port A, into the penstock, and thegate E is adjusted away from opening C, so as to admit the water to passthrough into'the pi pc B. The water will pass upward in pipe B, throughthe valve as it rises in the penstock, until it reaches the level of thewater in the forebay or supply,or until sufficient water has passed intothe pipe B to start the motor. I now close opening C and admit waterthrough openings D, so that the Water will flow in from a higher pointin the pipe B, and a greater force will be exerted on the belt. It willbe seen that should port C be closed and the water admitted, instarting, through the opening D, only a smallquantity thereof wouldexert its force on the belt, and the latter will not be likely to move;but byA admitting it through the lower opening and letting it flowupward through the valve of the buckets a sufficient quantity isadmitted to st-art the motor when the lower opening may be closed andthe upper one opened, so as to receive the water from ahigher point. Byforming the valves of the buckets so as to open against pressure from infront, with reference to line of motion, they not only permit thepassage of water upward in starting the motor, but they also open inpassing through the water below the penstock, and thereby Cause -lessobstruction in passing through such water. The motor may be geared withmachines which it is desired to operate by extending the shaft of theupper pulley, or in other suitable manner that may be desirable.

I prefer to make the pipe B tubular, but it may be square, or of anysuitable form; as also the supply-pipe may be square, or the penstockround, without departing from the broad principles of my invention.

Where desired, as shown in Fig. 7, a gate may be arranged ,in theinduction-pipe to shut the waterout of the penstock, (usually a wickiet-gate or valve.) This gate maybe also used to adjust the supply ofwater in the penstock, in which case the gates or valves on the tube maybe dispensed with, and only a short tube of sufficient length to covertwo of the lower buckets be used, as shown in said Fig. 7, while thebuckets above pass down through the volume of water in the penstock, theresistance of the water being mainly removed during such downwardpassage by the action of the bucket-valves. This construction manifestlywould involve no departure from the broad principles of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Pat ent. is-

l. A motor consisting of the following elements in construction: apenstock, a straightl tube stationarily arranged therein and passingthrough its bottom, ports formed in said tubes at different levels,valves controlling the ports, a chain vor band operating downwardthrough said tube, and a series of valvular buckets attached to the bandand tting closely the walls of the tube, the valves of said bucketsbeing arranged to open in an inverse direction to the travel of theband, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a water-motor, the combination of a penstock, a tube placedtherein and provided with a series of openings at different levels, andan endless chain provided with buckets operating through the tube, witha tubular valve sleeved on said tube and controlling its openings and anotched rod and catch for y holding the valve in any desired position,substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth. v

3. In an endless-chain water-motor, the combination of a penstock, atube arranged therein and provided with a series of openings atdifferent levels, a tubular valve sleeved thereon and cont-rolling theopenings, and means for adjusting said tubular valve, as and for thepurposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES PHILIP BRADWAY.

